U.S. patent number 7,394,373 [Application Number 11/029,357] was granted by the patent office on 2008-07-01 for image forming apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Young-min Kim, Sang-Cheol Park.
United States Patent |
7,394,373 |
Park , et al. |
July 1, 2008 |
Image forming apparatus
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a
mainboard on which a reader is integrally installed, and a RFID
(radio frequency identification) tag is installed on a cartridge
within a distance capable of radio communication with the reader.
Therefore, the image forming apparatus is designed such that the
reader acting as a radio communication device is integrally formed
on the mainboard, such that a cable connecting the reader and the
mainboard is not required, and noise resulting from the cable can
be prevented.
Inventors: |
Park; Sang-Cheol (Suwon-si,
KR), Kim; Young-min (Suwon-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Suwon-si, KR)
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Family
ID: |
34880337 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/029,357 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050191064 A1 |
Sep 1, 2005 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 28, 2004 [KR] |
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10-2004-0013784 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/572.1;
340/572.8; 235/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
21/1882 (20130101); G03G 2221/166 (20130101); G03G
2221/1892 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
13/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/572.1,572.4,572.8,10.1,10.42,10.51 ;399/12 ;235/375 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2003-0076164 |
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Sep 2003 |
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KR |
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2003-0081086 |
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Oct 2003 |
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KR |
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2003-0093433 |
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Dec 2003 |
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KR |
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Primary Examiner: Pham; Toan N
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roylance, Abrams, Berdo &
Goodman, L.L.P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge removably
installed to a fixed location within an image forming apparatus
housing; a reader performing a radio communication with the
cartridge; a mainboard on which the reader is integrally installed,
the reader and mainboard being installed at a predetermined
location within the image forming apparatus housing; and a radio
frequency identification (RFID) tag installed on the cartridge
within a distance capable of radio communication with the
reader.
2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is
installed on a bottom of the cartridge.
3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mainboard is
installed under the cartridge, the radio communication being
performed between the reader and the RFID tag.
4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is
installed on a side of the cartridge.
5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mainboard is
installed beside the cartridge, the radio communication being
performed between the reader and the RFID tag.
6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a
mainboard housing surrounding the mainboard on which the reader is
installed.
7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mainboard
housing has an opening in a predetermined position, for
facilitating radio communication between the reader and the RFID
tag.
8. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mainboard
housing is made of a non-conductive material around the opening
thereof and the remaining portion of the mainboard housing is made
of a conductive material.
9. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mainboard
housing is made of a non-conductive material.
10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reader is
formed into modules according to functions, such that the reader
can be selectively installed on the mainboard and detached
therefrom.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a replaceable unit
removably installed to a fixed location within an image forming
apparatus housing; a reader performing a radio communication with
the replaceable unit; a mainboard on which the reader is integrally
installed, the reader and mainboard being installed at a
predetermined location within the image forming apparatus housing;
and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag installed on the
replaceable unit within a distance capable of radio communication
with the reader.
12. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the RFID tag
is installed on a bottom or side of the replaceable unit.
13. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, the radio
communication being performed between the reader and the RFID
tag.
14. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a
mainboard housing surrounding the mainboard on which the reader is
installed.
15. The image forming apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mainboard
housing has an opening in a predetermined position, to facilitate
radio communication between the reader and the RFID tag.
16. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mainboard
housing is made of a non-conductive material around the opening
thereof and the remaining portion of the mainboard housing is made
of a conductive material.
17. The image forming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mainboard
housing is made of a non-conductive material.
18. The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the reader is
formed into modules according to functions, such that the reader
can be selectively installed on the mainboard and detached
therefrom.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) of
Korean Patent Application No. 2004-13784, filed on Feb. 28, 2004,
in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming
apparatus in which a reader is installed on a mainboard, for radio
communication with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag
installed in a cartridge of the image forming apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
An image forming apparatus is a common name for a printer, a fax
machine or an all-in-one machine that combines the functions of
printer, facsimile, and the like. Recently, some image forming
apparatuses use a radio communication device for accessing
cartridge data.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional image forming apparatus that has a
structure for radio communication between a cartridge and a main
body of the image forming apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus includes a
cartridge 10, a RFID tag 12, a reader 14, a mainboard 16, and a
cable 18. In order to facilitate radio communication, the RFID tag
12 is installed on the cartridge 10, and the reader 14 is installed
adjacent to the RFID tag 12 in order to read data from the RFID tag
12.
The RFID tag 12 includes a memory (not shown) for storing data, an
antenna (not shown) for sending the data stored in the memory to
the reader 14, and a sender (not shown) for sending the data stored
in the memory to the antenna.
The mainboard 16 of the image forming apparatus is provided with a
controller (not shown) for controlling an overall operation of the
image forming apparatus. The cable 18 is provided for connecting
the mainboard 16 and the reader 14.
The RFID tag 12 is typically disposed at a top portion or a front
(cartridge insertion direction) portion of the cartridge 10.
Further, the mainboard 16 is typically connected to the reader 14
through the cable 18, in order to exchange data with the RFID tag
12.
However, since the RFID tag 12 is disposed at the top portion or
the front portion of the cartridge 10, the reader 14 must be
installed at a location facing the top portion or the front portion
of the cartridge 10. Therefore, the cable 18 is necessary to
connect the reader 14 and the mainboard 16 and a separate space for
installing the reader 14 is needed, such that noise can be
generated by the cable 18 and the size of the image forming
apparatus is increased because of the separate space.
Accordingly there is a need for an image forming apparatus having a
reader integrally formed with a mainboard and within a distance
from an RFID tag such that a cable connecting the mainboard and the
reader is not required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide an image forming
apparatus, in which a reader acting as a radio communication device
is integrally formed on a mainboard, such that a cable is not
required to connect the reader and the mainboard.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an image forming apparatus including a mainboard on which a reader
is integrally installed, and a RFID (radio frequency
identification) tag installed on a cartridge within a distance
capable of radio communication with the reader.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent in connection with the
following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof
with reference to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of a
conventional image forming apparatus provided with a cartridge, a
reader, and a mainboard;
FIG. 2A is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according
to another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to
yet another embodiment of the present invention.
Throughout the drawings, it will be understood that like reference
numbers refer to like elements, features and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 2A is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2A, an image forming apparatus includes a
cartridge 100, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag 110, a
reader 120, mainboard 130, and a housing 140. The RFID tag 110 is
installed at a bottom-rear side of the cartridge 100. The reader
120 is integrally installed on the mainboard 130, arranged adjacent
and facing the RFID tag 110. The mainboard 130 provided with the
integrally installed reader 120 is installed within the housing
140. That is, the housing 140 surrounds the mainboard 130. The
housing 140 surrounding the mainboard 130 is installed at a lower
portion of the image forming apparatus.
The RFID tag 110 responds to a radio wave from the reader 120 and
sends a radio frequency identification and stored data to the
reader 120. The RFID tag 110 is used for a short distance
transmission at low frequency.
The RFID tag 110 is adapted to be easily installed and detached
from the cartridge 110 and includes a unit capable of reading and
writing various data from the cartridge 100. A nonvolatile memory
(not shown) is used for a memory (not shown) of the RFID tag 110 in
order to store data even when power is off.
The reader 120 converts data from the RFID tag 110 and sends the
converted data to a controller (not shown) of the mainboard 130.
The controller compares the data from the reader 120 with a
pre-stored database in order to control a necessary operation.
The reader 120 is integrally installed on the mainboard 130. Owing
to the integral installation of the reader 120, a cable required in
the related art to connect the reader 120 and the mainboard 130 is
not required. The reader 120 can be formed into modules accord to
functions, such that the reader 120 can be selectively installed on
the mainboard 130 and detached therefrom.
The reader 120 can be spaced from 1 cm to 50 cm apart from the RFID
tag 110. It is preferable for a stable operation of the reader 120
to space the reader 120 closer to the RFID tag 110, it is more
appropriate that the reader 120 is spaced from 1 cm to 20 cm apart
from the RFID tag 110 in order to prevent the reader 120 from
interfering with other devices.
The mainboard 130 including the reader 120 is provided at a lower
portion of the image forming apparatus.
The housing 140 surrounds the mainboard 130. The housing 140 has an
opening above the reader 120, such that a radio communication
between the reader 120 and the RFID tag 110 can be performed
without noise. That is, the opening of the housing 140 prevents
noise during a radio communication between the reader 120 and the
RFID tag 110.
The entire housing 140 is preferably made of a non-conductive
material. For example, the housing 140 can be made of a polymer
resin such as a plastic, such that the radio communication between
the reader 120 and the RFID tag 110 can be performed without noise.
Further, the housing 140 can be made of a conductive material with
a non-conductive portion located adjacent to the reader 120, such
that the non-conductive portion allows radio communication between
the reader 120 and the RFID tag 110 to be performed without noise,
and such that the conductive material blocks electromagnetic waves
generated from the mainboard 130.
FIG. 2B is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2B, an image forming apparatus includes a
cartridge 200, a RFID tag 210, a reader 220, mainboard 230, and a
housing 240. The RFID tag 210 is installed at a bottom-front side
of the cartridge 200. The reader 220 is integrally installed on the
mainboard 230, adjacent the RFID tag 210. The mainboard 230
provided with the integrally installed reader 220 is installed
within the housing 240. The housing 240 surrounding the mainboard
230 is installed at a lower portion of the image forming
apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to
yet another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus includes a
cartridge 300, a RFID tag 310, a reader 320, mainboard 330, and a
housing 340. The RFID tag 310 is installed at a side of the
cartridge 300. The reader 320 is integrally installed on the
mainboard 330, adjacent the RFID tag 310. The mainboard 330
provided with the integrally installed reader 320 is installed
within the housing 340. The housing 340 is installed at a side
portion of the image forming apparatus.
As described above, the image forming apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention is designed that the reader
acting as a radio communication device is integrally formed on the
mainboard, such that the cable connecting the reader and the
mainboard is not required. Thus, noise generated by a cable can be
prevented and the image forming apparatus can be conveniently
assembled.
While the image forming apparatus according to embodiments of the
present invention have been particularly shown and described with
reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the following
claims.
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